EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 735, June 20, 2008

PLACING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, CREATED UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 62 DATED JANUARY 15, 1999, UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

WHEREAS, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, which the Philippines signed on December 14, 2000 and ratified on May 28, 2002 encourages the formulation of coordinated national policy, legislative, administrative, and law enforcement approaches to prevent and combat transnational crime more effectively;

WHEREAS, the ASEAN Declaration on Transnational Organized Crime and its implementing instruments, the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Organized Crime and its Work Programme, call on all Member-States of the ASEAN to solidify governmental efforts in areas of information exchange, training, legislation, law enforcement, institution-building, and extra-regional cooperation;

WHEREAS, to address the range of transnational crimes affecting our country, Executive Order No. 62 was issued on January 15, 1999 creating the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) to formulate and implement a concerted program of action of all law enforcement, intelligence, and other agencies for the prevention and control of transnational crime;

WHEREAS, current realities demand a comprehensive, focused, and concerted effort to fight transnational crime, and Executive Order No. 265 dated January 23, 2004 defined the institutional mechanism for the Government’s program to combat transnational crime;

WHEREAS, given the nature and extent of transnational crime, the PCTC should be place under the direct supervision and control of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in order to enhance the cooperative action between PCTC and the local government agencies;

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the Office of the President.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) is placed under the direct supervision and control of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Section 2. All orders, rules, regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 3. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 20th day of June, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eight.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA

Executive Secretary